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EULOGY 



ON THE LATE 



Hon. Charles O'Neill, 



Hon. ROBERT ADAMS, Jr., 



DEI.lVEREn IN THE 



HOUSE OF REPRESEJSTTATIVES, 



Saturday, March 31, 1894. 



WASHINGTON. 
I «94 



EULOGY 



ON THE LATE 



Hon. Charles O'Neill, 



Hon. ROBERT ADAMS, Jr., 



DELIVKUKD IN THE 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 



Saturday, March 31, 1894. 



WASHINGTON. 
I 894 



.05 si 



Q— 



E E ]\r A E K S 

OF 

HO^^ EOBEET ADAMS, Je. 



The House having under consideration the following memorial resolutions : 

'■Besoleed, That the business of the House be now suspended that opportu- 
nity may be given for tributes to the memory of the Hon. Charles O'Neill, 
'late a Representative from the State of Pennsylvania: 

■•R solved. That the Clerft communicate these proceedings to the Senate; 

•■■Resolved. That the Clerk be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions 
to the family of the deceased: and, 

■•Resolved. That as a particular mark of respect to the memory of the de-^ 
ceased, and in recognition of his eminent abilities as a distinguished public 
servant, the House at the con-nusion of these memorial proceedings shall 
stand adjourned"— 

Mr. ADAMS of Pennsylvania said: 

Mr. Speaker: Among- all civilized peoples from immemorial 
times it has been a beautiful custom to mingle with laments for 
the dead eulogies of their well-spent lives. The Greek elegy, 
the resounding prose of the Roman orators, the limpid speech 
and incisive phrase of the French Academy, and the lofty and 
pathetic verse of Milton and Tennyson have been alike in the 
•one great purpose of teaching the lesson tint the highest life is 
that which is lived for others. The public servant has this re- 
ward, that as the tendency of his toil and labor is to take him 
out of himself and set before him the public good as his highest 
aim. so the popular heart is willing to condone his faults and 
errors and to remember only that he was one who had in his way 
striven to serve his fellow-man. But when such a public serv- 
ant has brought uncommon physical energy, blessed with long 
life and large faculties of head and heart, to the tasks and obli- 
gations of political life, we must feel it to be a sad, yet sacred, 
duty to bring our unavailing regrets, mingled with words of 
commendation, to his bier. 

Mr. Speaker, a good mm has fallen: avaluabie public servant 
has gone from among us. A representative of some of the best 
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elements of our national pi-ogress, a tried and trusted legislator 
has answered at a higher roll call than this. 

Charles O'Neill came of old Revolutionary stoek. His grand- 
father handled a musket in the war for Independence as a member 
of Capt. Helm's company of the New Jersey line. When the war 
was over he laid down his gun and took up the more peaceful occu- 
pation of teaching school at New Castle, in the Stite of Delaware. 

His son afterwards removed to the city of Philadelphia, where 
his son, Charles O'Neill, was born on the 21st day of March, 1821, 
in a house built duinng the Revolutionary war on ground owned 
by the venerable parish of St. Peter's Church, on the north side 
of Spruce street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, and in it 
passed his youthful days. His preparatory edvication was re- 
ceived at the celebrated school of the Society of Friends on 
Fourth sti^eet iu the said city, under the charge of .John Sander- 
son, ascholir who has left his impress on many of his pupils.. 
Thus, well grounded, young O'Neill entered Dickinson College 
at Carlisle, in the State of Pennsylvania, without difficulty in 
the year 1837, and while there that ])atient industry was devel- 
oped which so characterized his later life. 

During his stay in college the president wrote his mother 
that he had seen enough of the boy to know that he would make 
his mark in the world if given a chance, and advised on gradua- 
tion that he should pursue the study of the law. This letter was. 
the turning point of his life, for on taking his degree in the year 
1840, he entered the office of that distinguished barrister, the 
Hon. George M. Dallas, afterward Vice-President of the United 
States, and in the year 1843 was admitted to the practice of law 
in the courts of his native city. 

Mr. O'Neill soon developed a taste and aptitude for public 
affairs, and in the year 1830, while still ayoung man was honored 
by his fellow-citizens by an election to the house of representa- 
tives of the State of Pennsylvania on the Whig ticket, and was- 
complimented by a reelection in the years 18')1 and 1852. So 
well did he fulfill his duties as a representative that his constit- 
uents in the next year ])romoted him to the State senate, where 
he was noted for the same strict attention to the interests of his 
district, which now covered a larger field and more diversifiedi 



interests. In the year I860 he was again returned to the house 
of representatives of his State as a Republican. 

The career of Charh^s O Neill in public life was no sudden 
streak of fortune or of happy accident, as has characterized the 
beginning- of so many men distinguished in the liistory of our 
country, but was founded and continued upon a conscientious 
performance of duty which gradually impressed itself upon the 
people of his city, and who showed their appreciation by his 
steady advancement at their hands, at the same time moved by 
a conviction tliat it was for their own advantage to i-etain the 
services of so faithful a public servant. 

He was nominated by the Republicans for Congress in the year 
18(jl. That party had not the hold upon the people at that date 
that it afterward acquired; and Col. Charles T. Biddle, agallant 
soldier, was his Democratic opponent. Despite these facts so 
great was O'Neills" popularity that he was defeated by only 218 
votes, and for the following term he defeated Col. Biddle by 
2,546 votes. Mr. O'Neiirs m ijorities increased steadily during 
his nearly thirty years of service, his last being in the year 1892 
6.40."). He was returned as a Representative to Congress contin- 
uously except one term, when he was defeated by John V. 
Creely, an independent Republican supported by the Democrats. 

The history of Mr. O'Neill for the nearly thirty years of his 
Congressional career is intimately interwoven with the history 
of the period of that service, and the student will find the record 
of his acts in harmony wifh the loyal efforts to preserve the 
Union and with the best interests of the financial management 
of the country and on the vital questions of currency, tariff, and 
commerce were conservative and sound, as propounded by the 
best minds and the closest thinkers of his party. 

His chief and marked characteristic was his regular attend- 
ance upon the sessions of this House, his strict attentions to the 
questions under consider.ition, and to the wants of his people. 
No constituent ever had to write him a second time to secure 
attention to his request, and no intarview was ever denied an 
applicant in Washington or at his home. The services of no 
Sergeant-at-Arms was ever necessary to notify him that the 

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•public business was being delayed on account of his absence, and 
but few quorums failed for the lack of his vote. 

Mr. O'Neill did not pose as an orator, and never spoke unless 
he had something- to say bearing on the question at issue. He 
never failed to command the respect and attention of his col- 
leagues because they knew that peculiarity. His talk was al- 
ways vigorous, concise, and accurate. In committee he was a 
most useful and indefatigable worker and always alert to ad- 
vance or protect the interest of Philadelphia; and to him as 
much as to any member is she indebted for the appropriations 
made from time to time for the harbor improvements and also 
the appropriation for the new mint to be built in the city of I'hila- 
deLphia. 

The average citi/.eu does not re.ilize the requirements of leg- 
isl itive bodies and of governments as to details; both would be- 
come so clogged that the frame of society would dissolve if it 
were not for the patient, unassuming, industrious public servant 
like Charles O'Neill, who lor forty years served his people so 
well. Thi-ough this long term of service no breath of dishonest 
:scandal ever touched his name, and v/hen it is remembered that 
great men, his colleagues and friends, were besmirched with 
the "Credit Mobilier "' and " Star Route "' frauds, to say nothing 
of lesser corrupt legislation, it adds the luster of unassailed in- 
tegrity as another laurel to lay in his bier. 

Mr. O'Neill was not ambitious unless it was for the continued 
approval and acknowledgment of services advantageous to his 
constituents. His aspirations never led him to wish for or to 
seek the Speakership of the House, although his long service 
and great knowledge of parliamentary law gave him a claim to 
that honorable position. His idea of Congressional service was 
uyjon the floor of the House, continued by succassive elections, 
showing the undiminished confidence of his district. He had 
his wish and died the •• father of the House." and will take his 
place in history b '.side his colleagues who also attained similar 
honor, and th;- names of Kelley, Randall, and O'Neill will ever 
stand out brilliantly from among the sons of Pennsylvania who 
shed luster upon their native State by their able representation 

in the National Legisbiture. 
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During- his course in Congress he had as colleagues Thaddeua 
Stevens, Jamss K. Moorhead, Edward McPherson, andGALUSHA 
A. Grow, so recently returned a member, full of years and 
honors, but alas, to find but few of his former associates left. 
Prom other States were seated JuSTiN S. MoRRiLL, Henry L. 
Dawes, John A.. Logan, William Windom, Elihu B. Wash- 
burne, Roscoe Conkling, James G. Blaine, James A. Gartield, 
Nathaniel P. Banks. Samuel S. Cox, and William S. Holman, 
who is still a member and succeeded Mr. O'Neill as " father of 
the House." 

It is given to but few of a member's constituents to know of 
his home life, but it was there that some of the strongest and 
loveliest traita of the one we mourn to-day showed themselves. 
It was in his library, crowded with documents of every sort that 
related to Philadelphia, that his great knowledge of her affairs 
and of all things that concerned her citizens was demonstrated. 
He was familiar with every measure, public or private, relating 
to Philadelphia, and his information was at the disposal of all. 
• One of the marked traits of the deceased was his gentle nature 
and kindness toward his associates. A beautiful compliment 
was once paid to a Senator that "the consciousness of having 
unintentionally used a discourteous expression would bring a 
blush to his face.*' It might with equal propriety be said of 
Representative O'Neill that the consciousness of having wounded 
a brother member would have given a much deeper wound to 
his own heart. One who kuew him well thus described his char- 
acter to my. •• He had great determination and was sympathetic 
to a wonderful degree: duty was his greatest characteristic. No 
personal pleasure nor thought of sslf ever interfered with his 
public service. To his country and his family he was faithful 
the same. Truthfulness was another trait: he could not toler- 
ate even in jest the least deviation from the truth. He had the 
simplicity of a child, the tenderness of a woman, with the 
strength of a man, and all that was most beautiful in him was 
thrown out most in his home life." His death was in keeping 

with his life. 

The fatigue of the extra session in the summer was beyond his 
failing health. His last act was to administer, as the oldest. 
iai6 



member, the oath of ortice to the n ;\v Speaker. He retunied to 
Phihulelphia, where his vitality rapidly waned, and on Novem- 
ber 25, 181)3, he laid down for rest and it proved to be everlast- 
ing, for he never woke. His burial, too, was simple, save the of- 
ficial presence of the Congressional delegation, it might have 
been thought a plain citizen was being given the final rites. 
But as one looked around the Presbyterian Church he would 
have been impressed with the sad faces of the many gathered to 
do him honor. 

Rich and poor were assembled there, for all classes knew they 
had lost a faithful Representative and friend, and as the plain 
coffin that held all that was left of Charles ONeill was borne 
down the aisle but few of the eyes that beheld it were undimmed 
with tears, and yet all felt they could find some consolation in 
Cicero's eloquent words: " His end was not unfortunate, for he 
died mature in years and full of honors and at a moment happy 
for his fame, but unfortunate for his country.'' 
laio 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



013 789 044 6 



